Apparatus and process for producing prepared roofing



Oct. 26, 1926. 1,604,941

w. T. HOFMANN APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING PREPARED ROOFING FiledFeb. 2, 1921 I I (4 442 22 I state, to the formin Patented Oct. 26%,122%..

I Ni ii WILLIAM T. HOFMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS AND PROCESS IFQR PRODUCING PREPARED ROOFING.

Application filed Eebrualy 2, 1921. Serial No. 441,339. I

This invention relatesto improvements in prepared roofing and a processand apparatus for producing the same and refers more particularly to animproved apparatus and process for producing a tapered shingle formed ofprepared roofing material.

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a process inwhich the roofing material of felt, fabric or other well knowncompositions used in the manufacture of prepared roofing, subsequent toits Ipassage through the asphaltic or bituminous ath, is subjected,while in a soft plastic effect of an air blast by meansof which efinitedesigns are pro duced upon its surface; to provide a process which maybe similarly carried out by projecting the coating substance directlyfrom the nozzles on to the roofing felt in a manner to roduce designsidentical to those formed y the air blast; to provide a process in whichthe design forming operation may be perfOrmed in combination with doctorblades or forming rolls by means of which the designs may be made moredistinct; to provide a process in which, in addition td the designforming operation, by means of air blasts the surfacingmaterial may alsobe applied to the sheets through similar nozzles and with the assistanceof compressed air =Wherebythe finer particles of dust are diverted fromthe surface of the coated r001- ing sheet thereby furnishing a betterbond between the granular surfacing material and the adhesive coatingsubstance of the sheet; to provide a process in which, in addition tothe forming efiect, the air blast will assist materially in cooling thesheet subsequent to its passing through the heated coating substance,thereby reducing the cost of cooling machinery; and to provide anapparatus adapted to carry out the above process.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of only that portion of the roofingmachinery essential to the understanding of the present 1nvention.

Fig. 2 is an edge View, partly in section, showing the position of thenozzles above the sheet.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of'the roofing sheet after formation.

Fig. 4 is adetail of one of thefinished shingles.

The roofing sheet 1 comprlsmg a felted stock common in the roofing artin making prepared roofing is fed from any convenient source (not shown)over the guide roll 2 which is supported by suitable bearings on theedge of the coating tank 3. A lower lmmersing roll 4 is positioned inthe bottom of the tank and guides the roofing sheet througlrtthe bath ofheavy bituminous or asphaltic material shown at 5. After pass ingthrough the bath and being coated with this heavy asphaltic orbituminous substance, the sheet is directed over the guide roll 6mounted on the opposite side of the tank. Above the guide roll 6 arepositioned a series of nozzles 7 having two forked projections 8 "and 9at their lower ends, said projections having. emission apertures or openmouthpieces out along their lower surfaces. Compressed air, furnishedfrom any suitable source (not shown), is forced to flow under highpressure through the nozzles 7 and permitted to play upon the softplastic coating of the roofing sheet as it emerges from the coating bath5. t The ,mouthpieces or slots through which the compressed air passesin the lower sides of the arms 8 and 9 are positioned to direct the airin concentrated jets soas to produce a rigid or wave effect in thecoating substance on the surface of the sheet. As shown in Fig. 2 withthe use of three nozzles positioned across the sheet three regularridges will be formed running longitudinally of the sheet. A similarformation may be produced upon the surface of the sheet by the use of asingle nozzle having a jagged mouthpiece which will direct the air in amanner similar to that produced by the three nozzles as shown. Also theinvention is not restricted to the simple ridge design shown in theAfter being thus formed by an air blast,

if it is desired that the design be more definite or clear out, a doctorblade 13 or pressure embossing roll may be applied to the sheet in orderto bring out more clearly the design formedby the air from the nozzles.At 10 is shown a nozzle supplied with compressed air through a pipe 11which blows comminuted material from any suitable source, such as slateor other mineral matter, which may be applied to the formed surface Withthe assistance of the air blast. After drying and cooling, the formedsheet is cut into shingles similarto that shown coating is plasticapplying jecting jets of compressed air at a predeter-' mined angle toproduce the desired effect.

3. A process of forming prepared roofing, *onsisting in subjecting theplastic coating substance upon the roofing sheet to an air blast to forma predetermined relief de- S1 A process of forming prepared ro'of- Iing, which comprises applying a thermoplastic coating upon a sheet, andwhile the fluid under pres sure thereagainst to orm depressions therein.

. 5. A process of forming prepared roofing, which comprises applying athermoplastic coating upon a sheet, carrying said sheet over a support,forming longitudinal depressions in the plastic coating by applyingfluid under pressure against the coating on that portion of the sheetwhich is passing the support, and then applying grit to the plasticcoating. 1 j

6. A process for forming prepared roofing, consisting in producing acontour upon the coated sheet while in a plastic state by projectingjets of compressed air at a re-' determined angle to produce the desireeffect, subsequently imposing a granular mineral coating to the formedsurface.

7. In an apparatus for producing prepared roofing, the combination witha means for advancing the roofing sheet, of a means for projecting jetsof compressed air under high velocity 'at diflerent angles upon theplastic coating of the sheet to produce predetermined designs thereon.

9. A process for forming prepared roofing sheets consisting in producinga contour upon the coated sheet while in a heated lastic state byrojecting jets of compresse air onto its sur ace and aflixing a granularsurfacing material with an air blast on the surface of the sheet. v

10. A process/for forming prepared roofing, consisting in producing acontour upon the coated sheet while in a plastic state by projectingjets of compressed air at a predetermined angle to produce the desiredeffect, and afiixing a granular surfacing material to the coated sheetwith an air blast.

WILLIAM T. HOFMANN.

